France's senate takes up gay marriage debate

French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira gestures during the debate in the French Senate on the government project to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption for same-sex couples, in Paris, France, Thursday , April. 4, 2013. The lower house of France's parliament approved the "marriage for everyone" bill last month with a large majority, and it's facing a vote in the Senate today. Both houses are dominated by French President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party and its allies.(AP Photo/ Jacqu
— AP

French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira gestures during the debate in the French Senate on the government project to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption for same-sex couples, in Paris, France, Thursday , April. 4, 2013. The lower house of France's parliament approved the "marriage for everyone" bill last month with a large majority, and it's facing a vote in the Senate today. Both houses are dominated by French President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party and its allies.(AP Photo/ Jacqu
/ AP

French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira delivers a speech during a debate on a government project to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption for same-sex couples, in the French Senate, Paris, France, Thursday, April 4, 2013. France's lower house of parliament approved a bill permitting same sex-marriages with a large majority last month. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)— AP

French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira delivers a speech during a debate on a government project to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption for same-sex couples, in the French Senate, Paris, France, Thursday, April 4, 2013. France's lower house of parliament approved a bill permitting same sex-marriages with a large majority last month. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)
/ AP

French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira delivers a speech during the debate in the French Senate on the government project to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption for same-sex couples, in Paris, France, Thursday April. 4, 2013. The lower house of France's parliament approved the "marriage for everyone" bill last month with a large majority, and it's facing a vote in the Senate today. Both houses are dominated by French President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party and its allies. (AP Phot— AP

French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira delivers a speech during the debate in the French Senate on the government project to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption for same-sex couples, in Paris, France, Thursday April. 4, 2013. The lower house of France's parliament approved the "marriage for everyone" bill last month with a large majority, and it's facing a vote in the Senate today. Both houses are dominated by French President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party and its allies. (AP Phot
/ AP

French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira, right, attends the debate in the French Senate on the government project to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption for same-sex couples, in Paris, France, Thursday April. 4, 2013. The lower house of France's parliament approved the "marriage for everyone" bill last month with a large majority, and it's facing a vote in the Senate today. Both houses are dominated by French President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party and its allies.(AP Photo/ Jacques— AP

French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira, right, attends the debate in the French Senate on the government project to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption for same-sex couples, in Paris, France, Thursday April. 4, 2013. The lower house of France's parliament approved the "marriage for everyone" bill last month with a large majority, and it's facing a vote in the Senate today. Both houses are dominated by French President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party and its allies.(AP Photo/ Jacques
/ AP

PARIS 
France's upper house of parliament has begun debating a bill to legalize gay marriage and allow same-sex couples to adopt children, weeks after the divisive reform was passed in the lower house.

The senate debate is scheduled to last until April 13. Last month the National Assembly approved the measure, putting France on track to join about a dozen mostly European nations that allow gay marriage. Both houses are dominated by President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party and its allies.

Opponents of the reform organized protests outside the senate building near Paris' Luxembourg Gardens.

Polls indicate a narrow majority of French support legalizing gay marriage, though that support falls when questions about the adoption and conception of children come into play.